A friend is treating her sprained ankle as if it’s a cause for amputation. How can I talk some sense into her without seeming insensitive?

“Even with minor injuries or illnesses, people can feel out of control,” says Arnold Medvene, a staff psychologist specializing in illness-and-loss group therapy at the University of Maryland Counseling Center, in College Park. Try to figure out where the gloomy outlook or need for attention is coming from. Say, “This is really a big deal for you. Have you had a sprained ankle/toothache/the flu before? What happened then?” You can be sympathetic without getting sucked into — or feeding — the hysteria.